Expert: Robin Flynn - 1/19/2010

Question
Hi! My partner and I are doing a science project on polar bears and we are wondering what one of the recovery plans are. We can't seem to get an email back from WWF for their response so we are asking you. Polar bears are magnificent creatures who deserve to have a good life as well as us. We know that climate change is a big facter but we can't seem to find a recovery plan on what the activists want to do to help them.
Thanks in advance,
Stacey

Answer
Hi Stacey,

I checked the US Fish and Wildlife service website to see what recovery plan they have in place but it looks like nothing has been released. However on Sept 23rd,2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released a strategic plan for responding to the impacts of climate change on wildlife and habitats through adaptation and mitigation actions, and through engagement with other agencies have implemented a strategic plan. And on Oct of 2009 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to designate critical habitat for the polar bear, and will open a 60-day public comment period on the measure. The critical habitat proposal identifies habitat in three separate areas or units: barrier island habitat, sea ice habitat and terrestrial denning habitat. I have included a few links for your review.

http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/10/us_moves_to_protect_polar_be...

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A0IJ


http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2009/09_23_2009_fish_and...

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/polarbear/rsm.html


For the Animals,
Robin